Sawatch
SnowpackKreston Rohrig · Mar 10, 2018 · Sawatch
Weather
Low lingering clouds started to break up mid-day. Temps were warm in the 30s throughout the valleys below treeline. Light winds near and above treeline helped to keep the snow surface cool and drifted the 1" of new snow.
Snowpack
1" of new snow was a surprising improvement to the snow surface and traveling conditions. In many places near and above treeline the meager amount of new snow was drifting into shallow wind-slabs. Below treeline in shady protected areas, the snowpack is weak and faceted. Southerly slopes are all cooked and crusty. I dug on a north facing slope above treeline around the margins of a slab and found an HS of 130cm. The mid and upper pack is consolidated into Pencil to 1F slabs, but weak DH still makes up the lower 50cm. CT scores were moderate breaking on the slab DH layer and ECTN30 on the same layer. There is still potential to get a failure, but is becoming much less likely.